Stagecoach 2014: John Conlee, Jason Isbell and Ashley Monroe entertain during midday of country music festival

Ashley Monroe performs on the Mane Stage Saturday afternoon April 26, 2014 on the second day of Stagecoach 2014 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. (Will Lester/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)

INDIO >> John Conlee, Jason Isbell and Ashley Monroe might have nothing in common with other than the fact that they all played during the second day of the Stagecoach Country Music Festival on Saturday afternoon.

Of the trio, country artist Conlee started first at 3 p.m. on the Palomino Stage. The Kentucky resident played his No. 1 hits like 1978’s “Lady Lay Down and 1981’s “Common Man” as well as fan favorites including 1982’s “Busted” and 1978’s “Rose Colored Glasses.”

Before his song “Old School,” which features lyrics like “I’m from the old school/ where hearts stay true” Conlee said “this is for all of us who have ever been to the old school.”

In the same tent but an hour later, critically acclaimed alternative country artist Isbell tore down the stage with revealing vocal numbers like “Cover Me Up” and “Super 8” from his latest album “Southeastern” as well as “Alabama Pines” from his 2011 album “Here We Rest.”

The number of people inside the Palomino Stage actually grew while Isbell was playing to where the tent appeared more than halfway packed when he was finished.

Isbell, from Green Hill, Ala., also played “Outfit” from his stint with the Drive-By Truckers and said “I wrote this for my dad for Father’s Day 13 years ago” before playing it.

And country/outlaw country artist Ashley Monroe, of the Pistol Annies (which includes Miranda Lambert and Angeleena Presley), performed at 5 p.m. Saturday at the mane stage playing songs like “Weed Instead of Roses” and “”Winning Streak.”

Before performing “Weed Instead of Roses,” the Knoxville, Tenn. resident said “it’s really just a love song. It ain’t all that bad.”

Other songs Monroe performed included “Like A Rose” and a Lambert cover “Heart Like Mine.”

“It’s so nice of you to meet me in the desert,” Monroe said at one point during her set.

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Wes covers culture and entertainment for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, The Sun and the Redlands Daily Facts. Reach the author at wes.woods@langnews.com
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